Radiator valves



y 21 19 4. o. c. SEM NSEN 3, 13 RADIATOR VALVES v Filed. May 24. 1 960 I INVENTOR.

OTTO C. SEMON SEN ATTOR NEY United States Patent 3,141,613 RADIATOR VALVES Gtto C. Sernonsen, 71 Superior Road, Bellerose, N.Y. Filed May 24, 1969, Ser. No. 31,463 3 Claims. ((31. 236--63) This invention relates to steam radiator vent valves, and more particularly to such valves of low pressure steam heating systems generally found in private homes.

One cause of failure of such valves to permit escape of air or a mixture of air and steam and thus prevent heating of the radiator, especially to its maximum, is that steam condensate forms around the valve seat as a film of water whose surface tension is sufficient to resist the low pressure of the system and thus effectively clogs the escape vent. This is no problem in high pressure systems because the pressure is sulficient to break any such possible surface tension.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide certain new and useful improvements in radiator valves for low pressure steam heating systems,

to eliminate clogging of the escape vent and thus assure not only that the radiator is heated but that it is heated to the maximum of its capacity. This statement assumes that the valve drain opening for condensate to flow back into the radiator functions flawlessly. However, clogging of this drain is a second common cause of failure in low pressure systems, but as the present invention is directed to improvements in the escape valve, the drain will not be further considered herein.

The above broad as well as additional and more specific objects will be clarified in the following description wherein reference numerals refer to like-numbered parts in the accompanying drawing. It is to be noted that the drawing is intended primarily for the purpose of illustration and that it is therefore neither desired nor intended to limit the invention necessarily to any or all of the exact details shown or described except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Referring briefly to the drawing, FIG. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a steam radiator valve embodying improvements provided by the present invention, shown attached to the adjacent wall of a radiator.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2 but showing a modified construction of the valve stem.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a modified construction of the valve seat housing.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but shows a further modified form of the value seat housing.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates the housing or shell of a steam radiator valve having a thermodynamic valve member or unit 11 mounted therein. A nipple 12 adapted to be screwed into the adjacent wall 13 of a radiator, serves to connect the shell to the radiator and, for the type of valve illustrated, supports the shell in vertical position. The reduced valve stem 14 extends axially from the valve unit 11. The term thermodynamic valve unit" is used to define that element which through its sensitivity to changes in temperature opens and closes the passage through the valve seat housing by making and breaking contact with the valve seat, and which in one form or another is common to all air vent valves. A feature of this invention with respect to this element is the extension 14b shown in FIG. 3.

The numeral 15 indicates one form of the valve seat housing of the present invention; the housing is substantially elongated when compared with other such housings. This housing has a compartment 16 into which the stem 14 projects through the unobstructed lower end of the compartment. At its upper end an elongated escape passage 17 is shown coaxial with the compartment 16, and a valve seat 19 at the junction of the passage 17 with the compartment 16 is adapted to have the tip of the stem 14 register therein to close the passage. Together, the compartment 16, the valve seat 19 and the passage 17 constitute a continuous passage 28 through the valve seat housing. The annular lower end of the compartment 16 constitutes a terminal orifice at the bottom of the passage 28. The housing is shown mounted in an axial opening in the roof 22 of the shell 10, with a cap 20, provided with one or more vents 21, covering the same.

A longitudinal slot or elongated opening 23 is provided in the wall surrounding the compartment 16, extending upward through the lower edge 24 of the housing 15.

The proportions of the elongated housing 15 and the valve stem 14 are such that as steam enters the shell 10 through the nipple 12., condensate which forms within the housing will be drawn down by the combined forces of gravity and capillary attraction, to accumulate or build up within the lower end of the compartment 16, being held there to the extent that the force of capillary attraction exceeds the force of gravity. As the level of water 25 rises in the housing 15, at a critical level short of the upper end of the slot 23 the weight of the water will be suflicient to break the capillary forces so that a portion of the water will flow downward along the stem and eventually accumulate in the bottom of the shell 10. That portion of the slot above the level of the water constitutes an unobstructed opening for the passage of air or steam into the compartment 16 and out through the passage 17.

In the form shown in FIG. 3, which is otherwise similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the valve stem 14:: has an axial reduced upward extension 14!) which extends wholly or part way through the passage 17. This modi fication is provided for cases where the design is such that condensate does not flow out of the passage above the seat.

FIG. 5 shows at a modified form of housing 15 in which the passage 17a has been shortened (with respect to the passage 17 described above) to the extent that the wall of the passage does not provide sufficient area for the formation of condensate and the housing top surrounding the orifice is tapered conically downward, as shown at 27, so that condensate forming thereon will flow away from the orifice.

FIG. 4 illustrates another modified form wherein, as shown, compartment 16 terminates in the elongated orifice 23, a portion of which is in angular relation to a horizontal plane. The elongated orifice which is formed by cutting away a portion of the housing wall, facilitates the draining of condensate from the compartment 16 and by reducing the amount of accumulated condensate to the point where a portion of the orifice is free of condensate it provides an unobstructed opening for the passage of air or steam into compartment 16.

In all of the various forms illustrated, condensate which collects within the closure cap 20 can evaporate and pass through the opening or openings 21.

The various structures illustrated assure that the radiator valve will not become clogged so that the radiator will function properly to provide its rated heat.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the constructions shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, as the thermodynamic unit may be made in any desired form, with a stem or without a stern; it may be mounted loosely or rigidly, vertically or horizontally, above or below the valve seat; the valve seat and the valve seat housing may each be formed as an integral part of the shell, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention which is best defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A radiator valve comprising a shell enclosing a compartment containing a thermodynamic valve unit, a nipple for connecting the interior of the shell to a radiator, an orifice through which air may pass out of the shell, and a valve seat housing mounted in an opening in a wall of said compartment, said housing having an axial passage therethrough with a valve seat located therein, and at least one orifice above the valve seat, the combination of said valve seat and the thermodynamic valve unit being adapted to control the movement of air and steam through the valve, said passage being provided with means for draining condensate out of a portion thereof extending from a point below the valve seat to and including a portion of an orifice above the valve seat, and means for entry of air or steam into the drained portion of the passage below the valve seat, said passage being so proportioned that the same constitutes means for draining accumulating in the lower portion of the passage.

2. A radiator valve according to claim 1, said opening being in the form of a slot extending downward into the orifice at the lower end of said passage' 3. A radiator valve according to claim 1, a portion of the terminal orifice at the lower end of said passage being elongated upwardly, a portion of said terminal orifice constituting said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Williams May 15, 1917 1,915,661 Gibson June 27, 1933 

1. A RADIATOR VALVE COMPRISING A SHELL ENCLOSING A COMPARTMENT CONTAINING A THERMODYNAMIC VALVE UNIT, A NIPPLE FOR CONNECTING THE INTERIOR OF THE SHELL TO A RADIATOR, AN ORIFICE THROUGH WHICH AIR MAY PASS OUT OF THE SHELL, AND A VALVE SEAT HOUSING MOUNTED IN AN OPENING IN A WALL OF SAID COMPARTMENT, SAID HOUSING HAVING AN AXIAL PASSAGE THERETHROUGH WITH A VALVE SEAT LOCATED THEREIN, AND AT LEAST ONE ORIFICE ABOVE THE VALVE SEAT, THE COMBINATION OF SAID VALVE SEAT AND THE THERMODYNAMIC VALVE UNIT BEING ADAPTED TO CONTROL THE MOVEMENT OF AIR AND STEAM THROUGH THE VALVE, SAID PASSAGE BEING PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR DRAINING CONDENSATE OUT OF A PORTION THEREOF EXTENDING FROM A POINT BELOW THE VALVE SEAT TO AND INCLUDING A PORTION OF AN ORIFICE ABOVE THE VALVE SEAT, AND MEANS FOR ENTRY OF AIR OR STEAM INTO THE DRAINED PORTION OF THE PASSAGE BELOW THE VALVE SEAT, SAID PASSAGE BEING SO PROPORTIONED THAT THE SAME CONSTITUTES MEANS FOR DRAINING CONDENSATE OUT OF THE UPPER PORTION THEREOF INTO THE LOWER PORTION THEREOF, THE LENGTH OF SAID LOWER PORTION BEING SUCH THAT THE LEVEL OF ANY CONDENSATE ACCUMULATING THEREIN WILL ALWAYS BE POSITIONED BELOW THE VALVE SEAT, SAID MEANS FOR THE ENTRY OF AIR OR STEAM INTO THE DRAINED PORTION OF THE PASSAGE BELOW THE VALVE SEAT COMPRISING AN OPENING INTO THE PASSAGE, A PORTION OF SAID OPENING INTO THE PASSAGE BEING POSITIONED ABOVE THE LEVEL ATTAINABLE BY CONDENSATE ACCUMULATING IN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE PASSAGE. 